Waters Named a ‘Home Rule Hero’

This is the second consecutive year Seminole Mayor Leslie Waters earned the distinction from the Florida League of Cities.

SEMINOLE – The Florida League of Cities has chosen Seminole Mayor Leslie Waters as one of 89 elected city officials throughout the state to receive the 2018 Home Rule Hero award.

The award recognizes her outstanding legislative advocacy of consistently reaching out to state legislators to help provide a city perspective on legislative issues that would be detrimental to local governments. She also received the award in 2017.

“I am very pleased to receive this honor,” Waters said. “Home Rule is the ability for a city to address local problems through local decision makers without interference from state government.”

Florida League of Cities Legislative Director Scott Dudley said, “Local self-government is the keystone of American democracy. The Florida League of Cities appreciates Mayor Waters, a former state legislator, being involved with the League’s legislative agenda. Her experience, knowledge, commitment and personal energy were once again crucial with advocating the Florida Legislature.”

Waters said she appreciates that legislators have scores of important issues to deal with each legislative session, “however, my responsibility as mayor is to protect any assault on municipal home rule, and to help assure lawmakers do not vote on legislation that could have unintended consequence to cities.”

In preparation for the 2018 session, Waters was appointed to serve on the Florida League of Cities Land and Economic Development Committee. On this committee she helped set legislative policy on annexation and community redevelopment issues.